College Principal Awarded FE Leader of the Year

Posted on the 4 May 2016

The country’s top FE college leader
has been announced as Judith Doyle, principal and chief executive of North East
based Gateshead College.

Judges of the TES Awards said that Judith Doyle was
a “truly worthy” winner of the FE Leader of the Year award, thanks to her
widespread regard amongst college colleagues and the wider North East business
and professional community.

The Times Education Supplement’s FE Awards celebrate those who have had
an outstanding influence on post-16 education in the UK. The shortlist for the FE Leader of the Year Award included a further
five of the country’s leading principals selected from a total of 379 colleges
across the UK.

Judith
Doyle is described as a dynamic and inspirational leader by her peers both
within the college and throughout the region. Judges heard that Judith is
energetic and passionate, engaged with staff and is wholly committed to helping
students progress into employment or further study. In addition, Judith’s
development of outstanding partnerships with employers and extensive links with
the North East LEP, CBI and NECC was also recognised.

Gateshead
College was also reported to have exceeded key financial targets, with the financial
health of the college continuing to be rated as ‘good’ by the Skills Funding
Agency.

Judges
commented that “winning the accolade of leader of
the year from such a formidable shortlist requires a standout performance.
Taking a college from requiring improvement to outstanding is a good start, but
to achieve that while raising the college’s profile with the business community
and the local authority and ensuring financial resilience is exceptional.”Since her
appointment in 2013, the college has improved from an Ofsted grade 3, requiring
improvement, to an Ofsted grade 1, also known as outstanding and the highest
level awarded by the official regulation body. Thanks to the improvements made
under Judith’s leadership, Gateshead College is now third in the country for
overall success rates, boasting apprentices which are 10 per cent above
national benchmarks for their achievements within their chosen course and
field.

Judith said: “I
am thrilled to be awarded FE Leader of the Year and that Gateshead College has
been recognised nationally as a leading further education provider. We were the only North East college to be recognised and
shortlisted in the awards which is a great reflection of our ambition.

“With support
from a strong senior executive team and a highly skilled and experienced set of
governors, we have continued to develop and deliver a clear and ambitious
vision for learners, ensuring we provide them with an employment edge. This
continued dedication to our learners and developing key relationships with
local businesses has helped us become one of only two colleges to be graded Outstanding
by Ofsted.

“We look
forward to maintaining and creating more excellent partnerships and networks of
employers, businesses and other training providers and organisations to support
the college’s vision and mission to develop a curriculum to meet the needs of
learners, local employers and local and regional priorities.”

The
national award, which was one of 14 TES FE Awards 2016, was presented to Judith in front of
hundreds of prestigious guests from the further education sector at
the Grosvenor House hotel in central London.

A breadth of testimonials impressed
the judges confirming the high regard in which Judith is held both within the
college and throughout the region. James Ramsbotham, chief executive at the
North East Chamber of Commerce, was one of those who provided a testimonial for
Judith, he said: “What makes Judith an exceptional leader is her ability to
also influence and lead others throughout both the private and public sectors. This,
in turn, provides an abundance of opportunities for learners enrolled at the
college, providing the best training programmes and job opportunities for
students. These factors make Gateshead College outstanding and support why
Judith is held in such high regard throughout the region.

“She
inspires and motivates business leaders to engage their employees in
aspirational skills development and I would go so far as to say we owe her a
huge debt of gratitude for the positive impact she has made not only within the
organisation she works for, but also on the regions businesses and organisations.”